Trolley-retriever.



J. E. GUNDRY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1912 mwfi wm Patented. Apr. 20, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. E. GUNDRY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER. APPIJCATION FILED SEPT-3.1912.

4 SHEBT8-SHEET 2.

THE NCRRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHKL, WASHINGIDN, D. C

1.EQGUNDRY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3. 1912.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHBBT 3.

mwmmm J. E. GUNDRY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER.

APPLICATION man SEPT- 3. m2.

hmfi ww Patented Apr. 20, 1915' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGmN. 0. c4

ilhlllElU @ATEF PATEN FFllQ.

JAMES E.

GUNDRY, 0F FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TD CHARLES E.

CRUSOE, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.

TROLLEY-RETRIEVER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns E. GUNDRY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Flint, in the county of Genesee and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Retrievers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

In the operation of trolley cars considerable damage is frequentlyoccasioned by the slipping of the trolley wheel from the trolley wire,permitting the trolley pole to fly up and strike the guy lines wherebythe trolley wire is supported, breaking the same and sometimes causingthe trolley wire to.

fall. Not only is expense occasioned in this manner, but sometimesserious accidents have resulted from the charged trolley wire falling tothe street. The various trolley retrievers heretofore used to preventsuch accidents are not generally satisfactory, in that too great tensionis maintained by most of such devices at all times upon the trolleypole, thereby occasioning imperfect contact at times, or, if set to lesstension, the trolley pole is permitted to fly up a considerable distancebefore the retriever catches the same.

It is an object of this invention to afford a trolley retriever soconstructed as to permit the utmost freedom of movement of the trolleypole in its normal operation and use, but so constructed as to instantlycatch the trolley pole and arrest its upward movement should the wheelbecome disengaged from the trolley wire.

It is an object of the invention to afford a construction wherein theretrieving device is constructed double to afford one retrieving reelset at slight tension, and another retrieving and locking reel set athigher tension, and with which the ends of the retrieving line arerespectively connected, the bight thereof passing through a suitablesheave secured on the trolley rope.

It is an object of the invention to afford a construction equipped withtwo retrieving reels, each acting independently under normal conditions,but acting simultaneously to lock from further movement when shock isimparted thereto by a violent jerk on the Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed September 3, 1912.

Patented Apr. 209, 1915..

Serial No. 718,178. V

trolley rope, as occasioned when the trolley wheel slips from thetrolley line.

'The invention in its preferred form is illustrated in the drawings, andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a carequipped with a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation view of the retriever. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same.Figs. 4; and 5 are diagrammatic sections to illustrate the relation ofthe mechanism at different points in the operation thereof. Fig. 6 is areduced section taken on line 66 of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a central sectionof the same showing the shaft in elevation. Fig. 8 is a face view of thetake up sheave and ratchet wheel thereon, Fig. 9 is a section on line 99of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a face view looking oppositely from Fig. 8, thatis to say, as indicated by line 1010 in Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a section online l1-11 of Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is a section on line 1212 of Fig. 7. Fig.13 is a section on line 1313 of Fig. 7 Fig. 1 1 is a section on line ll14 of Fig. 10. Fig. 15 is an enlarged view in side elevation of thesame. Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 16-16 of Fig.12. Fig. 17 is a view in longitudinal section of the bearing sleeveillustrated in Fig. 7.

As shown in the drawings: 1 indicates the car, 2 the trolley line, ,3the trolley pole. equipped with a trolley wheel 4, and having the usualtrolley rope 5 depending there: from, said trolley rope being relativelyshort and having a sheave 6 secured at the lower end thereof. Thetrolley retriever is contained within a cylindric casing 7 of pressed orcast metal, having one integral head 8, and having a removable head 9rigidly but removably secured in the other end thereof, said head 9having a concentric boss or hub 10 thereon, cored to afford an interiorspring chamber and provided on opposite sides thereof with lugs 11, andwith a latching bolt 12 whereby said hub may be engaged in a suitableretaining socket 18 therefor secured on the rear end of the car belowsaid sheave. Two line apertures are provided through the wall of saidcasing, as shown in Fig. 2, said apertures being arranged one adjacentthe integral head 8 and the other inwardly therefrom, and each being ofa size to permit the retrieving line to run therethrough, and slotteddownwardly as shown in Fig. 2.

Rigidly secured at the axis of the casing, and projecting inwardlythrough said boss into the spring chamber isv a sleeve 14: which isflanged upwardly on the head of said boss and engaged thereto by meansof screws 49 or the like, and which is of a length to extend inwardlybeyond the inner face of the removable casing head 9. An inner sleeve,15, co-aXial therewith, is rigidly secured in said sleeve 14 by means ofset screws 16 shown in Fig. 17, and is of a length to extendinwardlyapproximately to or past the middle of the casing, and is provided witha peripheral flange 17 at its inner end, as shown in Figs. 7 10 and 17.Journaled in said sleeve and in the head 8 of the casing is a shaft 18adapted to be rigidly secured in place by means of a set screw 1.9extending through the hub of said head, as shown in Fig. 7 intoengagement with the shaft. At its opposite end, or that extendingthrough the sleeve 15, said shaft is provided with a slot, as shown inFig. 3, to permit engagement by a screw-driver or other suitable tool,to rotate the same when said set screw is loosened. An enlargement orcollar 20 is provided on said shaft to bear against the inner end of thesleeve 15, and journaled on said shaft between the head 8 and the innerend of said sleeve 15 is a sheave divided centrally and transverselysaid shaft to afford an outer sheave section 21, and an inner sheavesection 22, which are cored to afford an interior spring chamber and arerigidly secured together by means of bolts 23.

A flatispiral spring 24 is rigidly secured at itsrinner end on saidshaft 18, and at its outer end is secured on a pin 25, as shown in Figs7 and 9. Said sheave is arranged in said casing, as shown in Figs. 7 and9,

- with its grooved periphery in alinement with the outer line aperturethrough the casing, and secured on the rim of thesheave at the bottom ofits curved periphery by means of a bolt 26 is a chain 27 which extendsthrough saidaperture in the casing and is engaged on one end of theretrieving line 28.

.A ratchet wheel, 29, is rigidly secured on theinner face of thesheavesection 22, with the teeth thereof directed oppositely from thedirection of rotation of said sheave in winding up the retrieving line,as shown in Figs. Sand 9. A sheave, also divided in a plane transverselythe shaft therefor to afford sections 30 and 31, and cored to afford aninterior chamber, and the sections thereof rigidly secured together bymeans of screws or bolts32, is journaledon the inner end of the sleeve15, the inner face of said sheave being recessed to receive the flange17 at the inner endof said sleeve therein, flush with said face.Journaled on said sleeve in the chamber in said sheave is a springcasing also constructed in sections 83 and 3st, and within which is aflat spiral spring 35, the inner end of which is rigidly engaged on thesleeve 15, and the outer end of which is engaged on a pin 36 extendingtransversely the spring chamber as shown in Fig. 11. As shown, thewhorls of said spring are directed to correspond with the spring 24 inthe sheave first described and shown in Fig. 9. The periphery of thesheave section 30 is slotted for a part of its circumference, andrigidly secured in said spring casing and projecting outwardly throughsaid slot is a bolt 37 at the outer end of which is engaged a chain 38which is connected with the other end of the retrieving line 28 as shownin Fig. 2, said chains 38 and 27 leading around their respective sheavesboth in the same direction. The bight of said retrieving line is engagedthrough the sheave 6, as shown in Fig. 1.

-"Pivotally engaged on the face of the sec tion of the inner sheave,which may be termed the retrieving sheave, is a hooked pawl 39 whichoverlies the periphery of the ratchet 29 on the take-up sheave, and isnormally held out of engagement therewith by means of a spring 40, asshown in Fig. 10.

The face of said retrieving sheave is slotted,

as shown in Fig. 10, and engaged in the spring casing within theretrieving sheave is a pin 4:1 which projects outwardly through saidslot and engages the back of said pawl, which curves upwardly across theslot so that rotation of the spring casing relatively the retrievingsheave in retrieving acts to throw said pawl into en agement, lockingboth said sheaves together to rotate simultaneously, as indicated. bydotted lines in Figs. a and 5.

i ecured on the outer face 34 of said spring casing, and adjacent thesleeve 15 are out wardly curved and obliquely set or eccentricprojections 4-2, one on each side of the center. and slidably seated insuitable grooves therefor in the inner face of the section 31 of theretrieving sheave are bolts 43 provided at the inner ends thereof withinwardly projecting pins 4-4 and 4-5, which en one on each side of saideccentric projections or cams 4-2. to retract said bolts simultaneouslywith the engagement of the ratchet wheel by said pawl. As shown, saidbolts normally project through the periphery of the retrieving sheave.and through oppositely disposed apertures therefor in the casing 7 ofthe retriever, rigidly locking the retrieving sheave from. rotation.

A powerful retrieving spring 46 is secured within the casing in the boss10, and. as shown. is also a fiat spiral spring. one end of which isrigidly engaged to the sleeve 14 and the other end of which is rigidlyengaged on a pin :7 set in the adjacent face of the retrieving sheave asshown in Figs. 7 and 13, said spring being arranged and directed in saidcasing so that the tension thereof when wound is directed to correspondwith the draft of the springs 24 and in the respective sheaves.

The operation is as follows: The retriever is adjusted by first windingup the retrieving spring 46 to exert a powerful tension upon theretrieving sheave to wind up the end of the retrieving line thereon,which is secured thereto. Said spring may be readily wound to thedesired tension by means of a spanner which engages in apertures 48 inthe flange of the sleeve 14, the set screws 49 w iereby said sleeve issecured to the head of said boss being of course first removed, to bereturned to place to rigidly engage the sleeve from reverse rotationafter sufficient tension is given said spring. The spring 35 foractuating the pawl and locking bolts is next wound to a relatively hightension, this being accomplished by removing the set screws 16 fromengagement between said sleeves, and rotating said sleeve 15 by means ofa spanner engaging in the apertures 50 shown in the end of said sleevein Fig. 3.

\Vhen sufficient tension is attained in said spring the set screws 16are returned to place, rigidly locking said sleeve from reverserotation. he spring 24 for the takeup sheave is next wound to arelatively light tension, as compared with either the retrieving spring46 or the spring 35. This is accomplished by releasing the set screw 19and rotating the shaft 18 by means of a suitable tool engaged in theslot therefor in the end of said shaft, and the desired tension havingbeen attained, returning the set screw 19 to place.

As now assembled and adjusted, the tension on the spring 35, which maybe termed the releasing spring, is much greater than on the take-upspring 24, and the retrieving sheave 3031 is positively locked from anymovement whatever by means of the bolts 4-3, as illustrated in Figs. 12and 15. In consequence, such relatively slow upward and downwardmovements of the trolley pole as are occasioned by the ordinary sag inthe trolley wire between supports, or by other normal runningconditions, are compensated by the take-up sheave 2l22 under the tensionof its spring 24, the end of the retrieving line 28, secured to saidsheave, winding on and off said take-up sheave with such movements ofthe trolley, to keep a light tension. at all times upon said retrievingline, the movements being sufiiciently slow to enable the inertia of thetake-up sheave and the tension of its spring to be readily overcome.

Should the trolley wheel slip from the trolley wire, however, theconditions instantly become radically different. The

pole, under the influence of its heavy spring 51, flies violentlyupward, jerking the sheave 6 therewith and violently jerks the bight ofthe retrieving line, such movement being so violent that sufficient pullis exerted upon the casing of the releasing spring 35 as to rotate thesame against the tension of its spring. This forces the pin 41 down overthe pawl 39, bringing the same into engagement with the ratchet wheel29, and securing the take-up and retrieving sheaves rigidly together tomove in unison. Said movement of said casing at the same moment retractsthe belts out of engagement with the casing 7, whereupon both the takeupand retrieving springs receive a powerful impulse from the retrievingspring 46, thus released, the tension upon which is amply sufiicient towind up the retrieving line on said sheaves, not only arresting thefurther upward movement of the trolley pole, but actually pulling thesame downwardly to a point sufficiently low to clear the supports forthe trolley wire, and holding the same in such position until releasedmanually.

The take-up and retrieving is accomplished instantaneously after thetrolley wheel leaves the wire, the action being very rapid owing to thedownward draft being applied to both ends of the retrieving line 28,which are both wound simultaneously about the respective sheaves.

The retriever may again be set and the trolley wheel returned to thewire, or, if preferred, and this found convenient, the chains 27, 38,whereby the ends of the retrieving line are engaged on the respectivesheaves, may be released from said retrieving line, first having beenengaged in the respective slots therefor, and the retriever may be thenremoved from the end of the car and another like retriever substitutedin its stead, properly set and adjusted, and the ends of the retrievingline made fast as before described with the chains of said device.

It is to be understood that th particular means for tensioning thevarious springs may be varied as convenience may require, and thatnumerous details of the construction may be varied. I have shown but apreferred form of my invention, and it is to be understood that I do notpurpose limiting the patent granted on this application otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A trolley retriever comprising a re trieving sheave normally lockedfrom ac tion, a take-up sheave, a retrieving line fastened at its endsto both sheaves, a sheave in the bight thereof to which the trolley ropeis attached, a spring constantly acting on the take-up sheave to receivethe slack of the retrieving line, a powerful spring tensioned to rotatethe retrieving sheave to take up at the other end said retrieving linespring actuated means acting to release the retrieving sheave forrotation, and means acting to rigidly connect said sheaves to rotatetogether when the trolley rope is jerked.

2. In a trolley retriever the combination with a spring impelled,constantly acting take-up sheave, a retrieving line engaged at one endthereto, a normally inert retrieving sheave, to take up the other end ofsaid retrieving line, a sheave in the bight of said line to which thetrolley rope is attached, a tensioned retrieving spring normally heldfrom action, mechanism operated by jerking the trolley rope to releasesaid spring, and means locking said sheaves together to rotatesimultaneously to take up the retrieving line from both ends thereof anddraw the trolley pole downwardly.

8. In a device of the class described the combination with a trolleyrope, of a sheave thereon, a retrieving line engaged through the sheave,a spring impelled take up sheave for one end of the retrieving line, anormally locked retrieving sheave, a retrieving spring tensioned torotate the retrieving sheave, a release mechanism in the retrievingsheave, the other end of the retrieving line being attached to saidmechanism, and acting to release the retrieving sheave when actuated,and a pawl and ratchet on the respect ve sheaves adapted to be broughtinto engagement by the releasing mechanism simultaneously with therelease of the lock whereby excessive draft on the retrieving lineactuates the release mechanism to wind said retrieving line at both endsaround said sheaves.

4. In a device of the class described a shaft, a plurality of sheavesrotatable thereon, springs affording a resilient connection between saidshaft and sheaves, means for positively locking one of said sheaves fromrotation, and mechanism adapted to lock said sheaves together when saidlatter sheave is released.

5. In a device of the class described a plurality of rotatable sheaves,members positively locking one thereof from rotation, mechanism forreleasing said locking members, and means locking said sheaves togetherafter release of said locking members.

6. In a device of the class described a cas ing, a shaft therein,sheaves independently rotatable thereon, springs secured to said sheavesand said shaft to control the movement of the sheaves thereon, mechanismadaptedto lock one of said sheaves from rotation, spring controlledmeans for releasing said mechanism, and cam actuated means for lockingsaid sheaves together.

7. In a device of the class described a cas ing, .a plurality of sheavesindependently rotatable therein, means adapted to lock said sheavestogether, mechanism adapted to lock one of said sheaves from rotation,and a member adapted to release said lock ing mechanism and actuate saidlocking means to permit simultaneous rotation of said sheaves.

8. In a device of the class described a casing, sheaves rotatablymounted therein, a spring for each adapted to control the movementthereof, mechanism adapted to lock said sheaves together, means lockingone of said sheaves from rotation, and a spring controlled memberadapted to release said locking means and lock said locking mechanismadapting the rotation of the locked sheaves to be controlled by saidsprings and said spring controlled member.

9. In a device of the class described a casing, sheaves rotatabletherein, a pawl and ratchet adapted to lock said sheaves together, boltsadapted to engage said casing to lock one of said sheaves from rotation,and a member adapted to release said bolt mechanism and actuate saidratchet means to permit simultaneous rotation of said sheaves.

10. In a device of the class described a casing, sheaves rotatablymounted therein, a spring adapted to control the movement of each, apawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to lock said sheaves together, boltslocking one of said sheaves from rotation, and spring controlled cammembers adapted to simultaneously release said locking bolts and locksaid locking mechanism.

11. In a device of the class described a casing, a plurality of normallyunconnected sheaves therein, a spring contained within. one of saidsheaves to resist rotation thereof, a line with one end thereofconnected to said sheave adapted to be wound thereon, a casing withinthe other of said sheaves, a spring within said casing to resistmovement thereof, a pin secured in said casing adapted to projectthrough a slot in said sheave, and with the other end of said linesecured thereto, a strong tensioned spring connected to said lattersheave and secured within said casing, locking bolts adapted to preventrotation of said latter sheave under the inipulse of said spring, andmeans secured on said casing within said sheave to retract said lockingbolts and to permit rotation of said latter sheave under the impulse ofsaid strong spring.

12. In a device of the class described a plurality of sheaves normallyunconnected, means connecting the same together a spring containedwithin one of said sheaves and connected thereto to resist rotationthereof, a casing rotatable within the other of said sheaves, and aspring contained therein and connected thereto to resist rotation ofsaid casing, a strong spiral spring connected to said latter sheaveadapted to rotate the same when said sheaves are connected together,

and individual means for tensioning each one of said springsindependently of the other as desired.

13. In a device of the class described a plurality of normallyunconnected sheaves, a spring actuated casing Within one of saidsheaves, mechanisms for connecting said sheaves together, means on saidspring impelled casing for actuating said latter mechanism, and a spiralspring adapted to rotate said sheaves in locked relation.

14. In a device of the class described a plurality of sheaves normallyunconnected and capable of independent rotation, a spring for each ofsaid sheaves adapted to resist rotation thereof, locking mechanism forone of said sheaves holding the same normally at rest against thetension of its spring, a cable having its respective ends connected tosaid respective sheaves, and trained through a trolley rope permittingthe fluctuation in tension thereon to be resisted by said springcontrolled freely rotatable sheave, and mechanism actuated by suddenjerks of the trolley rope to entrain said sheaves together and torelease said locking mechanism, permitting both of said sheaves underthe impulse of said springs to Wind up the ends of the cable thereonsimultaneously.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES E. GUNDRY.

Witnesses:

R; J. GILLESPLE, HARRIETTE GILLEsPIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

